Thousands of Dutch Citizens Own Property in Spain, but Renting It Out Is About to Get Much Harder

Thousands of Dutch Citizens Own Property in Spain, but Renting It Out Is About to Get Much Harder
Source: AD

Dutch nationals who own a second home in Spain and wish to rent it out to tourists will now need explicit permission from the Spanish homeowners' association (VME). A new law taking effect this Thursday aims to make the housing market more affordable for Spanish residents—though it will have major implications for the tourism sector.

As part of its efforts to combat the housing crisis, Spain’s left-wing government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, is introducing a regulation that requires landlords to obtain the explicit consent of three out of five co-owners in the building before renting out their property.

Those who were already renting out legally and hold the correct licences prior to 3 April 2025 will be allowed to continue, for now. However, those without the proper permits risk hefty fines, according to Spanish media. Depending on the region, these fines can reach up to €600,000. In addition, landlords may be banned from renting out their property altogether.

Spaniards have recently taken to the streets in Ibiza to protest against mass tourism and its negative impact on the housing market.

The measure applies to all private landlords in Spain, including thousands of Dutch nationals. In 2023 alone, Dutch citizens collectively purchased over 4,000 homes in Spain, according to data from the Spanish land registry.

With the new rules, the government aims to curb the growing trend of foreign investors buying up properties for short-term rentals. This is expected to help reduce property prices and increase availability for local residents. It also levels the playing field with hotels, which face stricter regulations and higher taxes than private landlords.

An added benefit, according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, is that the new law may help reduce neighbour disputes. Tourists, unlike long-term residents, are often less considerate of noise and communal living norms, which has been a frequent source of tension in residential complexes.

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